{"id":611114,"date":"2026-09-01T11:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T11:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/611114\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T11:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T11:00:16","slug":"photographer-wins-dream-canadian-geographic-gig-for-wildlife-portfolio-including-dramatic-shot-of-puffin-and-cute-fox-portrait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/611114\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographer wins dream Canadian Geographic gig for wildlife portfolio including dramatic shot of puffin and cute fox portrait"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most photography competitions offer a cash or equipment prize, but I\u2019m sure many of us would trade that off for a job as a photographer with a dream organization.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what Newfoundland-based photographer David Sturge has won after recently being crowned the Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/a> by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).<\/p>\n

He now gets to work as a photographer for Canadian Geographic, RCGS\u2019 bimonthly magazine, covering assignments across culture, environmental and travel in British Columbia.<\/p>\n

Latest Videos FromDigital Camera World<\/p>\n

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\"Animal\"
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Canon EOS R6 II<\/a> | Canon EF 600mm f\/4L IS II USM | 1\/1800 sec | f\/4 | ISO 640 (Image credit: David Sturge)<\/p>\n

Sturge, who\u2019s based in Paradise, Newfoundland, and works as a provincial park ranger and wildlife guide, won the competition with a stellar portfolio of animal portraits.<\/p>\n

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Among them were a dramatic shot of a puffin holding a feather in its mouth and looking directly at the camera, as well as a photogenic fox seemingly posing for the shot.<\/p>\n

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Image 1 of 4<\/p>\n

\"Animal\"<\/p>\n

(Image credit: David Sturge)<\/p>\n

David Sturge image 4 settings<\/p>\n

Canon EOS R6 II | Canon EF 600mm f\/4L IS II USM | 1\/3200 sec | f\/4 | ISO 640<\/p>\n

\"Animal\"<\/p>\n

(Image credit: David Sturge)<\/p>\n

David Sturge image 1 settings<\/p>\n

Canon EOS R6 II<\/a> | Canon EF 600mm f\/4L IS II USM | 1\/4000 sec | f\/4 | ISO 400<\/p>\n

\"Animal\"<\/p>\n

(Image credit: David Sturge)<\/p>\n

David Sturge image 3 settings<\/p>\n

\"Animal\"<\/p>\n

(Image credit: David Sturge)<\/p>\n

David Sturge image 2 settings<\/p>\n

According to the organizers, the 2026 edition of the photography competition attracted more than 10,000 entries. 18 photographers in total were honored for images depicting terrestrial and aquatic animals, flora and fungi, and winged species.<\/p>\n

Steven Marriott<\/a> claimed first place in the \u201cTerrestrial Life\u201d category for an action freeze-frame of an American mink dashing toward his lens after catching some prey at a conservation area in Ontario.<\/p>\n

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While in the \u201cAquatic Life\u201d category, winner Jean-Christophe Lemay<\/a> got the judges\u2019 vote with a mesmerizingly colorful shot of a sandworm swimming on the surface of the St. Lawrence Estuary.<\/p>\n

Image 1 of 4<\/p>\n

\"Minx<\/p>\n

American minx<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Steven Marriott)<\/p>\n

Image 1 (Steven Marriott) settings<\/p>\n

\"Sandworm.\"<\/p>\n

Sandworm<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Jean-Christophe Lemay)<\/p>\n

Image 2 (Jean-Christophe Lemay)<\/p>\n

\"Cottongrass.\"<\/p>\n

Cottongrass<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Anthony Zerafa)<\/p>\n

Image 3 (Anthony Zerafa) settings<\/p>\n

iPhone XR back camera | 4.25 mm (26mm in 35mm equivalent) 1\/2200 sec | f\/1.8 | ISO 25<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Jon Behuniak)<\/p>\n

Image 4 ( Jon Behuniak)<\/p>\n

Over in the \u201cFlora and Fungi\u201d category, entomologist Anthony Zerafa<\/a> came first with a shot of Scheuchzer\u2019s cottongrass growing on the shore of Colour Lake on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut.<\/p>\n

And Saskatchewan-based biologist Jon Behuniak<\/a> won the \u201cThings with Wings\u201d category with a macro frame of a thick-headed fly on a raspberry cane.<\/p>\n

The Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an annual photography competition celebrating the flora and fauna within Canadian borders. Photographs must be taken in Canada by photographers who are permanent residents in the country.<\/p>\n

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Deals on the winner’s cameras!<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s our tried-and-tested pick of the best cameras for wildlife photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n